This post has been contributed by Katherine Town, Vancouver lifeguard stationed at Lost Lagoon, on behalf of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). As a member of SPES for the last six years, I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” where they contribute and share stories with my audience once a month.
Is It Safe to Skate on Lost Lagoon?
By Katherine Town, Vancouver lifeguard stationed at Lost Lagoon
Dec 24, 1983. Skaters on Lost Lagoon. Ralph Bower/Vancouver Sun.
It’s a rare winter in Vancouver when the temperature dips low enough for Lost Lagoon to freeze over. Vancouverites are enthralled with the ice, and yearn to go on it. But, is it safe? Seeing birds standing on the ice does not mean it will support you. After all, a bird may weigh a pound or two, how much do you weigh? The same if your dog scampers out on the ice. Consider its weight versus yours.
At any given time, the ice in Lost Lagoon is of variable thickness. On the city side, where it is predominately in the shade, the ice will be thicker. On the Park side, it is usually sunny, so the ice is thinner. Any place where water is moving means thin ice: at a drainage pipe emptying into the lake or where birds are moving around. Underneath the trees is another area where the ice is thin.
The water in Lost Lagoon itself is not totally fresh water. Some salt water leaks in, and this means it must be much colder in order for it to freeze. In addition to its brackish state, there is very little water circulation in Lost Lagoon; the bottom of the lake is silty with decomposing plants and waterfowl feces which bumps up the water temperature.
A few other factors contribute to thin ice on Lost Lagoon: The lake is close to the ocean, at sea level, so the freezing level must be very low to affect it. The temperature of the ocean also affects the land surrounding it. Lost Lagoon temperatures are therefore moderated by the ocean surrounding it. And Lost Lagoon is a large body of water reaching 7 feet deep in some areas. A larger body of water takes longer to freeze. Areas like Trout Lake, farther east away from the ocean, with 150 feet of elevation above sea level, will freeze more quickly. Combine all of these factors together, and you can understand why it takes Lost Lagoon longer to freeze than other ponds.
And ice can still be thick and not safe. When the snow falls on top of ice, the snow acts like a blanket and insulates the ice, keeping the ice warmer. The ice won’t form as quickly nor as solidly. It’s the kind that you will fall through! Or, air pockets may be formed in the ice, and these won’t support your weight either.
1930s: Skating on Lost Lagoon. Archives# CVA 1376-669.
Frozen Lagoon Safety Tips
Standing on the ice and stomping on it with your feet to see if it supports you is risky! Especially if you are unsure of the water depth. If you want to stomp on the ice, find a place where the water depth is only few inches thick. When you fall through, you only get wet to your ankles! Imagine the surprise you’ll get if you fall through 5 feet of ice cold water.
Keep your dog off the ice. When your dog falls through, your first inclination is to go and get him. Stop! Your dog is considerably lighter than you. This means you are definitely going swimming.
If you need to rescue someone, think of your own safety. Try to rescue them without putting yourself in danger, that is, stay away from where they fell in. Throw them something that floats. Throw them something with a rope attached to it, so you can pull them back in. Around the perimeter of Lost Lagoon, there are red wooden ice ladders. You can extend an ice ladder out to them.
If you feel you must go out on the ice, standing in one place puts all your weight in a small space. Try to distribute your weight over a large area. Lying flat on your stomach distributes your weight over a greater surface area. This is also how the red wooden ice ladders work in a rescue.
During periods of cold weather, when there is ice on Lost Lagoon, the Vancouver Park Board stations lifeguards to patrol the ice. If you are unsure of ice conditions, speak to the lifeguard. When the danger signs are on the ice warning you of thin ice, believe them! The signs are there because it is not safe. The Lifeguard’s mandate is prevention — by keeping people off the ice.
With all these conditions, Lost Lagoon is not open to ice skating very often. The ice may be thick enough for one person to walk on it, but if the Park Board opens up the lake, 1000 people could show up! (Trout Lake experienced 2000 skaters at once last weekend). To be safe, the ice will need to be thicker to support that many people. Approximately 10 years ago, a portion of Lost Lagoon was open for skating for less than a week. 23 years back, skaters enjoyed several weeks of fun on Lost Lagoon during a very long cold spell. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does it’s such a thrill!
Until Lost Lagoon’s ice is thick enough to support skaters, content yourself with this fun video of river otters enjoying some slippery fun last January:
Enjoy Vancouver’s rare wintry weather, but play safe!
The 7th Annual Vancouver Canadians Hot Stove Luncheon Presented By Scotiabank is set for Friday, January 20th in support of the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation.
Vancouver Canadians Hot Stove Luncheon
When: Friday, January 20th, 2017 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm Where: Hotel Vancouver (900 West Georgia St) Tickets: Individual and group tickets can be purchased by calling 604.872.5232 or at the Nat Bailey Stadium Box Office.
Special guests include Toronto Blue Jays’ Pitcher, Joe Biagini, Director of Minor League Operations, Charlie Wilson and Former President of the Toronto Blue Jays, Paul Beeston.
This event, which brings baseball fans together from all across the Lower Mainland, works tirelessly to help benefit a number of great local charities, team’s and organizations. From Challenger Baseball to UBC Thunderbirds Baseball right through to the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC, the goal is to shine light on those who are truly making a difference in the local community.
Bring your family to Larwill Park in Downtown Vancouver this weekend to celebrate hockey in our community with Rogers Hometown Hockey. Canada’s largest touring hockey festival will have live music, games, hockey stars and a viewing party.
Rogers Hometown Hockey
When: January 14 & 15, 2017 12:00pm to 5:30pm Where: Larwill Park in Vancouver (Bounded by Cambie, Dunsmuir, Beatty, Georgia) Admission: Free!
Pick up a virtual autograph inside the Rogers Tent, meet your favourite NHL Alumni in the Scotiabank Community Locker Room, test your skills in the Chrysler Pacifica Stow N Go Challenge, and cheer for your local minor hockey teams in the Cheer Like Never Before contest.
Stop by Sunday as Hometown Hockey hosts Ron MacLean and Tara Slone broadcast live from Vancouver. Stick around for a live performance from local musicians and watch as the Vancouver Canucks take on the New Jersey Devils.
For more information follow Rogers Hometown Hockey on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using tag #HometownHockey.
Wedding shows, a winter classic, hockey, skating and more can be enjoyed this weekend in Metro Vancouver. Events are listed below and if you have one to add for this weekend, or in the future, feel free to send it in for a free listing.
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.
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I’ve highlighted a few matches against our Canadian and Cascadian rivals, and the reigning MLS champions, that are bound to have an electric atmosphere and great competition:
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2017 MLS Schedule
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Vancouver hosts Toronto
Friday, April 14, 2017
Vancouver hosts Seattle
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Portland hosts Vancouver
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Vancouver hosts Portland
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Vancouver hosts Seattle
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Seattle hosts Vancouver
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Portland hosts Vancouver
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Vancouver hosts NEW team Atlanta United
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Vancouver plays at new Orlando City SC stadium
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Vancouver hosts NEW team Minnesota United
In addition to the MLS lineup, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will also play in CONCACAF Champions League and the Amway Canadian Championship this year. CONCACAF matches will be played February 22nd at Red Bull Arena vs New York Red Bulls, and then March 2nd at BC Place again vs New York.
Just as MLS has done for the World Cup since 2010 and the 2016 Copa America Centenario, the 2017 schedule will include a break for the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage for the first time. Group stage matches for the CONCACAF Gold Cup will be played from July 7 through July 17.
The schedule for the 2017 Canadian Championship will be announced at a later date.
The regular MLS season kicks off at BC Place on March 5th when the Whitecaps take on Philadelphia Union. Follow Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Twitter and Facebook for more information about the schedule and single game ticket purchases which will be available in February.
This post has been contributed by Katherine Town, Vancouver lifeguard stationed at Lost Lagoon, on behalf of the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). As a member of SPES for the last six years, I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I created the “SPES Series” where they contribute and share stories with my audience once a month.
